Chance to name new Green Lifeboat

Published on Thursday, March 23, 2017

PEOPLE in Leicester are being given the chance to name a new river barge that is due to begin service cleaning up the city’s waterways.

The new 35-ft working river barge, which is currently being built in Warwickshire, is due to begin service later next month patrolling the city’s rivers and canals and ensuring the water and the riverbanks are free of litter and other hazards.

It is part of the city’s Green Lifeboat project, which gets volunteers involved in caring for the waterways and surrounding wildlife.

Now the process of naming the new boat has been thrown open to the public.

There is no particular theme, but judges are hoping for names which are fun and represent the culture and history of the city.

Entries should be sent by email to: parks@leicester.gov.uk before the closing date of midnight on Friday, April 7.

A panel of judges will choose a shortlist of entries. The winning name will be chosen by Leicester Assistant City Mayor for culture, leisure and sport, Cllr Piara Singh Clair.

The new vessel is part of Leicester City Council’s long-standing Green Lifeboat project, and it replaces the previous working boat Cranfleet. Much of the £37,000 cost of the new boat has been met by the income from various works carried out by the boat along the riverside.

The old boat had been loaned to the city council by the Canals and Rivers Trust, but has now been retired after more than 20 years service and returned to the trust for renovation and repairs.

Cllr Clair said: “The Green Lifeboat project has been a very popular scheme since the 1990s, with some very dedicated Parkforce volunteers who have taken the time to help our own staff in ensuring the river and waterside looks its best.

“I’m delighted that a new boat will be coming into service to continue the good work. I look forward to seeing the suggestions we receive for naming this vessel.”

The new boat’s arrival coincides with the latest appeal by Leicester City Council for Parkforce volunteers, to take part in a range of community clean-up schemes across the city.

Anyone wanting to get involved in the clean-up work can contact Leicester City Council’s Parkforce team, on 0116 454 1003, by email on parks@leicester.gov.uk